DEAN AUSTIN SAYS MORGAN ROBERTS AND SEAN WHALER SHOULD BE VERY PROUD

Cobblers boss Dean Austin said he was delighted to be able to award professional contracts to Morgan Roberts and Sean Whaler on Thursday.

“Both of them deserve it and when you sign your first professional contract it’s a special moment," he said.

“They are both smashing kids but their talent needs to be nurtured and they need to be helped along the way.

“Morgan has got exceptional natural talent and he is a player who can make things happen.

“He can see a pass and he’s got an eye for goal. We need to build his strength up but that will come.

“Sean can play in a number of different positions but we would like to find his natural position.

“We want to find the best fit for him and then give him the encouragement to go and play.

“I’ve got big plans for both of them but how big those plans are will come down to them and how hard they want to work. Their work ethic has been excellent so far and hopefully they have both got long careers ahead of them.

“I’ll give them both the base and the environment but now it’s down to them. They have had a taste of it and they have both adapted really well but now it’s a step up again.

“I’ve been through it and I think I am a good person to help them.

“In my 16 years coaching I’ve helped develop a lot of players and in fact one of the first players I came across was John-Joe O’Toole in the under 13/14s at Watford so I’ve known him a long time.

“John-Joe is a talisman for us, he’s a great player and a great human being.”